The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-11
EXPOSED By BYREEs
The New York Inspector Shat
tiers a Society Idol.
SUPPORTING AN IMPosTOR
John Reginald Talbot, English For
ger and Bogus LOrd-A Re-
markable Career.

NEWARK, n. j., November 28.-For
several weeks past man giving the
name of John Riginald Talbot has been
moving in the best society of this city,
supposed to be an English gentleman OF
noble connection. He has been well
come visitor at many houses ard has
been honored by invitations to all social
events of the past month, A few days
ago Talbot was identified by Inspector
Byrnes, of the New York police. as
Hugh Leslie Courtensy, alias Lord
Courtenay, alias G. Pelham Clinton,
etc., etc., who has figured in police an
nails from time to time in this country.
john Reginald Talbot came to Newark
last March and applied to Edward
ton, of the United States Electric LigI
Company, for work. He said he was il
pecuniary distress and was willing to do
anything in order to get little money
He seemed to be an intelligent man,
and alluded to being on friendly terms
with such notable people iu Newark and
elsewhere that Mr.. Weston promised to
help him if possible. He told Mr.. Wes-
ton that he was acquainted with many
of the leading families, and SAID he
GRO .sed the ocean on the same schooner
with certain Newarkers four years ago,
and knew them very well. He showed
letters from England which were all full
of illusions to his excellent family, and
re acknowledged himself to be distant
relative of the celebrated Talbot family,
whose name Is well known among
scientists.
SUPPORTING AN IMPosToR.
Mr.. Weston very charitably gave him
little money and paid the board bill,
which he said was in arrears. Mr..
Weston kept Talbot for six or eight
weeks, supporting him entirely, and
then procured for him position in the
Electric Light COMPANY at Plainheld.
The salary was a mere trif1e, but sufti-
cient to support him. About the LIST OF
October, Talbot again came to Mr.. Wes-
ton. He said that change of manage
ment had deprived him of his position,
and he was in very straitened elrcum
stances. Mr.. Weston had NJ position
to offer, bnt gave him some copying to
do, for which he paid him liberallv.
During all this time he was gradually
becoming figure in local society, hav-
room since October 1st in the resi-
denoe of a Well-known gentleman, and
being q frequent guest in many OF the
best houses of the city. When he re-
turned to Newark he brought letters of
to prominent people and
was received in the most cordial man
ner. His actions were gentlemaRly, his
that of an educated per-
son and he appeared to be what he said
he wss-a poor, but well-connected
English gentleman. He referred to his
ncble relatives in England. and even
went so far as TO offer to introduce
them to any Of bis friends in this city
should they visit England. he often
made reference to money which was
coming to him shortly from the other
side, and open letters were left q bout
his room counting inspection. Mr.. Tai
bets face and persen were as agreeable
as his manners. He was always well
dressed and wore stylish clothes. His
tall, slight figure, fresh rudy face and
attractive eyes made him as popular,
for a time, as did his stories and gen
eFal conversation. He told of advea-
lures in India, Egypt, Spain and Italy,
and seemed to be thoroughly informed
on every subject that happened to be
preached.
yERsKD IN THE SCIENCES. ~
He was well versed On scientific and
historical matters. and continually
made references to the English nobility,
among whom he had many friends. A
week ago it became rumered that Tai
bot was not exactly what he pretended
to be. The suspicious were only of the
most vague nature until lady, who, in
1875, had crossed the ocean in the same
steamer with Lord, Courtney, reoog-
niEsd Talbot in Broad Street and in
Trinity Church as that individuaL5 IT.
was also learned on very good sut hority
that the attractive features of Talbot
were to be found in the rogues' gallery.
A reporter, accompanied by young
man well known in society. went to
New York and saw Inspector Byrnes. A |
description of Talbot Was given, and the
great chief of the detective bureau in
short time produced photograph from
the rogues' gallery which was recog5
nized as being precisely like Talbot.
Talbot came to this country first in 1874,
and travelled under the name of Arun-
del. At that tune his photograph and
description was sent to- New York by
the Scotland Yard authorities. TIL.
only thing which he did that was at all
out of the way was to forget to pay bis
hotelsbiIl {; otherwise his conduct was ir-
I'm the fall o. 1875, however, he came
20 grief in Toronto while travelling
about under the name of Lord Court
ney. In Detroit he was Iieutenant
Dennison, of Her Majesty's Gath Regi-
ment, and in Rochester, Ray Reid. At
the close of the year 1875, he settled at
the Tefft House, Buffalo, as Lord
son of the Earl of Devon.
All ENGLISH GENTLEMAN.
AT all these places he affected to be an
English gentleman, who was forced to
leave homo on account Of domestic
trouble and wheHas in rather st.aitened-
circumstances. He borrowed money
wherever he got The opportunity, pre-
missing to pay n shert time. as he ex- |
pected a. large remittance from Eng
land and while In Buffaio he became